[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 7166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03365]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Pacific Halibut Fisheries: Charter Permits.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0592.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 236.
    Average Hours per Response: 2 hours for Application for Transfer of 
Charter Halibut Permit; 0.5 hours for Application for Military Charter 
Permit; 2 hours for Application for Transfer between IFQ and Guided 
Angler Fish (GAF); and 4 hours for Appeals if an Application for 
Transfer between IFQ and GAF is denied by NMFS.
    Burden Hours: 559.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection.
    The Alaska Pacific Halibut Charter Program established Federal 
Charter Halibut Permits (CHPs) for operators in the charter halibut 
fishery in IPHC regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central 
Gulf of Alaska). Since February 1, 2011, all vessel operators in Areas 
2C and 3A with charter anglers onboard catching and retaining Pacific 
halibut must have a valid CHP onboard during every charter vessel 
fishing trip. CHPs must be endorsed with the appropriate regulatory 
area and number of anglers.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented this 
program based on recommendations by the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council to meet allocation objectives in the charter halibut 
fishery. This program provides stability in the fishery by limiting the 
number of charter vessels that may participate in Areas 2C and 3A and 
decreasing the overall number of available CHPs over time. The program 
goals are to increase the value of the resource, limit boats to 
qualified active participants in the guided sport halibut sector, and 
enhance economic stability in rural coastal communities.
    An appeal letter was inadvertently removed from this collection 
previously, now reinstated.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals and households.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: February 14, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-03365 Filed 2-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P